Coin toss angers Filner, delays debate

A televised San Diego mayoral debate between Democratic Rep. Bob Filner and Republican City Councilman Carl DeMaio got off to a rocky start Saturday when a dispute over the ground rules led to the event beginning with an empty podium where Filner was supposed to be.

Filner objected to how the speaking order was determined through a coin toss and the subsequent argument kept the congressman from joining the stage until five minutes into the program.

Jon Fischer, news director at San Diego 6, which aired the debate Saturday night and Monday morning, said Filner showed up 15 minutes late and was so upset about the rules — which both candidates were given in advance — that he threatened to leave even though cameras were already rolling.

“It made for very good television as far as I’m concerned,” Fischer said.

The DeMaio campaign accused Filner of losing his temper backstage and cursing at a DeMaio staff member. Filner’s campaign acknowledged there was a dispute over the debate’s ground rules, but it was worked out and no expletive was uttered.

“He was upset. He was definitely very upset,” Fischer said of Filner. “I didn’t hear any foul language and neither did anybody on my staff but that doesn’t mean it didn’t take place. … I was very pleased that Bob decided to come out and be part of the event, but I was very concerned for a while.”

The DeMaio campaign is hyping the incident because it feeds their narrative that Filner’s well-documented fits of anger show he doesn’t have the temperament to be San Diego’s next mayor.

The debate, held at the Price Center at the University of California San Diego campus, began awkwardly as moderator Heather Myers noted Filner’s absence and her hope that he would join the stage soon. A UCSD promotional video was then played and Filner remained a no-show. Myers then explained the format and topics in an apparent effort to stall before DeMaio jumped in.

“Heather, before we start, Bob is actually offstage and he’s arguing with event organizers because he lost a coin toss,” DeMaio said. “I hope that he can come out and join us and answer these questions. … Bob, I just hope, come on out. I know you lost the coin toss and you want to speak last. Come on out. Thank you, Bob. Let’s give Bob Filner a round of applause. Thank you. We got him out here.”

Filner reached his podium and responded, “That your opening statement? Typical of the substance of this debate. That’s how he opens. No, I’m on time.”

Myers later referred to the dust-up as “coin toss gate” and “coin toss debacle.”

The backstage kerfuffle was over what winning the coin toss meant. The rules by student organizers were that whoever won the toss would get to answer the opening question first and then go first during closing remarks. That rule is intended to prevent either candidate from getting both the first and last word.

Filner won the toss but argued that he should have been given an option to go first or second.

Shortly after the debate, the DeMaio campaign issued a news release with the headline “Filner explodes over coin toss at debate.” DeMaio spokesman K.B. Forbes, who was backstage before the debate, said he tried to explain to Filner that the rules were similar to a previous debate. He said Filner replied, “You’re full of (expletive).”

Filner declined to answer questions about the coin toss following a public appearance Monday at City Hall. His campaign spokeswoman Lena’ Lewis said the campaign wasn’t OK with the debate rules as described and asked for a change. That conversation carried through the beginning of the debate, she said, but wasn’t a big deal. Asked if Filner cursed, Lewis said, “I didn’t hear that.”

A UCSD spokesman who was present during the coin toss didn’t return a call for comment.

Filner has a reputation for a prickly personality that has drawn attention in the past.

In 2003, Filner went to an immigration detention facility in El Centro to see a detainee. Officers told him he couldn’t enter the facility, but he slipped past them into a secure area and refused to leave. He also tried unsuccessfully to push his way past officers. Filner later apologized after he was allowed to see the detainee. No charges were filed.

A Justice Department incident report detailed Filner’s actions and a facility supervisor quoted Filner as saying “I am a congressman and can do whatever I want.” That quote is now being run in anti-Filner TV commercials paid for by a political-action committee supporting DeMaio.

In 2007, Filner was involved in an altercation with a baggage worker at Washington Dulles International Airport. She accused him of assault and battery after he tried to go into an employees-only area to inquire about his missing bags. He said he never touched her but pleaded no contest to trespassing, paid a $100 fine and issued her a written apology.